Sep 20, 2013. /Lesprom Network/.  Members of the Takoradi Wood Workers Association are concerned that there may be job losses when the VPA is implemented in 2014 even though its supporters claim it will provide new market opportunities. The Ghana Forestry Commission is now working to allay the fears of association members saying they appear to have misconstrued the concept of the VPA, ITTO reported.

At a stakeholders meeting in Takoradi, the Trade and Industry Manager at the Timber Industry Development Division, Mr. Peter Zormelo, explained the VPA is to improve transparency and accountability by ensuring that timber products exported to the EU from Ghana have been legally acquired, harvested, transported and shipped in compliance with local laws.

He advised association members to ensure they register their operations in order to acquire vendor licences to do legitimise their businesses.

To protect members from possible loses that might be associated with the VPA implementation the National Secretary of the Domestic Lumber Trade Association of

Ghana (DOLTA), Mr. Afreh Boakye, suggested there is a need for the GFC to ensure a regular supply of legal timber to the local market from established sawmills and artisan millers.